London Philharmonic Orchestra Premiers Rautavaara’s Incantations, October 24th

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After evenings of indescribable electricity with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in recent seasons, here Colin Currie takes flight once more with a world first: the première performance of Rautavaara’s Incantations, a piece that promises to marry aura and animation, finesse and fireworks. The concert begins with the world première of Rautavaara’s Incantations – a percussion concerto that promises to marry aura and animation, finesse and fireworks. Fifty years ago Rautavaara was awarded a scholarship from Jean Sibelius as the most promising Finnish composer of the following generation. Since then he has composed a broad range of works and this première will enable you to hear his intriguing style fusing modernism with mystical romanticism.

When Jean Sibelius was asked to award a scholarship to the most promising Finnish composer of the generation to follow him, he chose Einojuhani Rautavaara. In the fifty years since that endorsement, Rautavaara’s orchestral kaleidoscope has rotated full circle from luscious post-romanticism to electronic sampling – not to mention the broad range of his fascinating vocal and chamber works. His dreamy, magical control of what seems like a distant musical world has made him one of the most performed European composers of today.

In the second half is Bruckner’s Symphony 8, a majestic work with lavish themes and rich sonorities. Yannick Nézet-Séguin demonstrated his affinity with late romantic music last season. His interpretation of Bruckner’s Symphony 7 was described as ‘one of the most remarkable performances of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony I have ever heard.’ (Evening Standard, February 2009).

Nearly 120 years ago, Austrian Anton Bruckner was hard at work on his Eighth Symphony, the last he completed. His achievement brings Wagnerian luxury and richness into symphonic form, and some of the first listeners found the recipe too much for their aural palettes. But audiences eventually catch up with great artists’ visions, and we now savour fully this magical, solemn work – an incomparable portrait in sound glistening with the strings of Bruckner’s newly discovered harp.

Concert Details
24 October 2009 7:30pm
Royal Festival Hall
Rautavaara and Bruckner
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor
Colin Currie percussion

Rautavaara Incantations (for percussion and orchestra; world première)
Bruckner Symphony 8

TICKETS: £9 - £55
Book tickets online at lpo.org.uk

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